Jennifer Amede @bestie_love

I started the semester with a lot of enthusiasm and seriousness. I made sure to attend all my classes because I knew it was going to be a short semester. I was determined to do well, especially since I heard we might have exams before the Christmas break.

As the semester went on, we all waited for the department to post the exam timetable. Days turned into weeks, and it seemed like it was taking forever. Meanwhile, I noticed that other departments had already started their exams. It became clear that we wouldn’t be having our exams before the short break.

With no other choice, I decided to travel for my break. I was excited to go home, but it wasn’t quite what I had expected. Instead of enjoying the holiday fully, I found myself thinking about the exams that would come right after the Christmas break. It was hard to relax knowing that I would have to dive back into studying soon.

Even though I was with family and friends, my mind was still on the upcoming exams. I tried to enjoy the season, but the thought of school took over me. It was a strange mix of celebration and anxiety, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that the break was just a pause before the real work began.

Over the time I have always declined Fatima's invitations to accompany her to her doctor's appointments, not because I didn't want to support her, but because I've never been fond of hospital environments. However, the tables turned today when I asked Fatima to take me to see her doctor. I've been experiencing sharp stomach pains for a couple of days and couldn't take it anymore.

Upon arrival, I was surprised by the hospital's setup and the amazing environment. I remarked on this to Fatima, then she answered that I would be even more impressed by the doctor in charge. As we entered the hospital, you needed to see the crowd of people waiting to see the doctor. We registered and waited for our turn.

After a few hours, we finally met with the doctor. Her condition was pitiful, even to the extent that I had to listened intently as she spoke, observing the struggles she faced as she prescribed medication for me. As we left the office, Fatima asked how the appointment went. I expressed my surprise, and upon further inquiry, I discovered that the doctor had faced numerous health challenges, including high blood pressure, stroke, and skin cancer, which has left her with some physical deformities.

The doctor's resilience and dedication to her profession were inspiring. Despite her physical deformities, she remained committed to practicing medicine. I left with a newfound appreciation for this strong and remarkable woman.

I've consistently noticed the vibration from my phone. I knew it was a call from either a family member or a close friend. However, it was uncomfortable for me to reach out and take the call because I was in a church service. On the constant ring, I decided to excuse myself and take the call. Fortunately, it was from a female friend. That alone kept me wondering why the disturbance and how urgent it was. Whatever the situation was, she wanted to distract me from the service.

Little did I know that it was a serious case, as she was crying. I kept asking what the problem was, then she said her dad was kidnapped on his way back from the office, and they hadn't heard from him. For one second, I was speechless, so she ended the call herself. Not too long after, she called again, saying they'd heard from the kidnappers, who were asking for seventy million. There was no possible way they could raise that money within the limited time. The situation was dire, and raising such an amount would be very hard. I never knew when I burst into tears with her.

At this point, we could do little or nothing but pray and believe in God for a miracle. So, we decided to take the next step and ask God for a miracle, which we did. After much conversation with the kidnappers, they were able to reduce the ransom to ten million. So, we started making calls, asking for help from all related friends and family members. Thank God we were able to raise the money they requested, and the payment was made instantly.

I still remember the day I stepped onto the scale before starting my 300L first semester. I was suprise to see 50kg. I felt a sense of accomplishment, knowing I'd maintained that weight since 2016.

As the semester progressed, I kept a close eye on my weight. By exam time, I had dropped to 46kg. I wasn't worried; I knew it was just a temporary fluctuation, probably because of the exam stress and other factors that might be personal. As at the time the semester was coming to an end I was back up to 48kg.

Life got busy, and I didn't get a chance to check my weight during those times. But recently, I decided to step onto the scale again. I wasn't too sure what it would be this time but to my greatest surprise I weighed 54kg! Wow I had finally broken through the 50kg barrier.

I couldn't wait to share the news with my friends Fatima and Ogechi. Those girls has always talked down on me each time we discussed about our fitness journeys, and now I felt like I had something to brag about. Fear my return.

Wisdom tooth pain is no joke. I’ve always heard my friends complain about how painful it can be, especially when their wisdom teeth started growing. I was always so scared of the day I would experience it for myself, but then it happened. One morning, I started feeling a slight discomfort around the back of my mouth. At first, I didn’t think much of it. But as the day went on, the pain slowly started to increase, and by evening, I couldn’t ignore it anymore. That’s when it hit me – it was my wisdom tooth coming through.

The pain was unlike anything I’d experienced before. It was constant, and I couldn’t find a comfortable position to sit in. I kept thinking about how bad my friend’s experience was and how much pain they had gone through. That night, I tried to get some sleep, but the discomfort made it impossible. I kept tossing and turning, praying the pain would go away, but it didn’t. It was only when the morning came that I realized something strange – the pain was gone. Just like that.

I was amazed. By the time I woke up, all the pain had disappeared. I could hardly believe it. It was like a miracle. The rest of the day came and went, and there was no more discomfort. I thought I was in the clear. And true enough, as my wisdom tooth finished growing, I never experienced any more pain. It was almost like it never happened. But I still wonder how I would’ve managed if the pain had lasted longer. Honestly, I feel so lucky.